Closure fastener



G. A. TI-NNERMAN Sept; 15, 1953 CLOSURE FASTENER Filed Jan. 31, 1949 5 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Games: 4. 77A/IV6EMAA/ 6 i./ Tv/46 b m m w 4 F Arraeusr P 1953 G. A. TINNERMAN 2,652,275

CLOSURE FASTENER Filed Jan. 51, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO R N EY fastening means for door swinging or-slidin housings, etc.

- which i is secured in --operative position.

tiveposition a accidental removal without the -1neans or special= adapters or ret tion taking place entirely from 1 Patented Sept. 15, 1953 George A. .Tinnerman, tojTinnerman Produ a corporationof Ohio Cleveland, Ohio, assignor ts, Inc.,1Cleveland,- Ohio,

Application January 31, 1949, Serial No. 73,780 1 Claim. (01. 292-47) This invention relates ingeneral to closure fastenersa-nd the like, and deals, more particularly,

-with:an improved spring catchuorspringclip deco and various forms of cooperating studs which the latching or separable s, drawers, and similar g closures of cabinets, casings,

are used therewith as Thenatureof most spring catchand spring latch devices -is-such that they usually require some form of auxiliary fastening means such as bolts, screws, rivets, orthe like, to secure the same in-attaehed position in an assembly or otherwise,-requirea-special retainer or adapter the'assembly and in turn holds the spring catchor spring latch device in Naturally an important part spring latch or spring catch of the'cost of the devices resides in the use of such auxiliary fasteningmeans or special'adapters or retainers, both inthe cost of these devices and in the cost for the labor required in the time-consuming assembling operations involved.

A primary object ofthe invention, therefore, istoprovide animproved spring catch or spring latch device which is complete'initselfandis easily andquicklyapplied to attached operative position in an opening in a panel, flange orother part of an assembly and retained in such operagainst inadvertent disconnection or use of bolts, ous attaching ainers for this screws, rivets or it other extrane purpose.

Anotherobject of theinvention isto provide such a spring catch 'or spring latch which is adapted tube readily attached in a panel opening in this manner fromeitherthe forwardorrearwardside of the panel.

Frequently an assembl or inner side of the yis such that the interior panel to which the spring catch is to loe attached is enclosed or concealed by-other partsof the installation and it isthere- 'forenecessary that the springcatchbe capable of attachment -by-anasse1nbling operation taking place entirely from-outside of the'panel. A furtherobject of the invention, therefore, is to provide a spring catch or springlatch device of the kind described which is adapted tobe applied easily and quickly toattached operative position in apanel opening in an assembly'by an operathe outer, readily mbly, as is requiredin ple.

ject' of the invention accessible side of the asse ajblindlocation, for exam Another ob an improved is to provide 'plete with attaching means fromwan inexpensive section ofsheet. metal to icomprise a compact,

spring catch which is formed composition.

provision Ofl a sheet :meta

imple form, ofdevice which, "though light in weight, is extremely durablevandsthereby highly practical and especially adapted for use withlight weight 'tstructures, especially sheet; metal: structures such as refrigerators; utility 'cabinetsstoves, ranges, and the like.

A further objectvof theinvention is torprovide an improved rsheetimetal spring catch or spring latch or similar'fastener which is self retained in attachedposition and comprises a pair of resilient spring arms which extend free in face to facerelation for engagement withca cooperating stud or strike mounted yonpadoor, closureor other part in a manner' wherebyxsaid. resilient spring arms are forced apart tolreceivethestud and frictionally and grippingly engage the same tin secured Still anothennbjectrof the invention is I for the llspring catch orspring latch of 'this a character which i is provided with relatively, long spring ,arms having cam surfaces formedon theinextremitiesiwhich are adapted to receive andvengageicam;surfaces on at cooperating stud or strike by snap fastening actiomanduwith a minimumof: distortion and strain thereby minimizing the possibility of'breakage of the spring arms from crystallization.

use with a cooperatin An additionalsobjectaof the invention is toprovide a spring catch having all the foregoing features and advantagesland which is adapted for g sheet metal studtor strike provided as an inexpensive, one-piece sheetmetal stamping.

Another .objectofthe invention is to provide a spring catchusuch "as :described comprising a sheet metal spring fastener and a cooperating sheet metal stud or strike 'in various forms which are adapted for attachment in a wide range-and variety of applications.

'spring'catch in edge elevatio tages and new and uction, arrangement mproved tion; improved n as attached in'an opening in a supporting panel showing the general outline of the panel opening and the relation of the spring catch in attached position in such panel opening;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a pair of adjacent members of an installation showing the improved spring catch in edge elevation in attached position on one member and in securing engagement with a cooperating stud attached to the other member;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the spring catch in side elevation with the sheet metal stud retained thereby shown in edge elevation; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating one form of attachment of the sheet metal stud wherein the shank of the stud extends through an opening in the associated member.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of sheet metal stud; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showin an assembly embodying the stud of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another form of sheet metal stud; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing an assembly embodying the stud of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a further form of stud together with a portion of the tool for anchoring the stud in attached position;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of an assembly similar to Fig. 5 showing the stud of Fig. 11 as anchored in attached position on the associated member; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side view of Fig. 12,

of a modified form 1 as along line l3l3, showing the elements for anchoring the stud in attached position.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of still another form of sheet metal stud; and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of an assembly similar to Fig. 5 showing the sheet metal stud of Fig. 14 in attached position on the associated member.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a further form of sheet metal stud provided with clip type attaching means and shown in position for attachment in an opening in the associated panel member;

Fig. 17 shows the fastener of Fig. 16 in top plan as initially inserted and positioned in the opening in the associated panel final attachment of the stud in said panel opening;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the stud in final attached position in the panel opening;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of an assembly similar to Fig. 5 showing the stud of Figs. 16-18 inclusive as attached in an opening in the associated panel member in a completed installation;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of Fig. 19, as along line 20-20, showing the attaching elements of the sheet metal stud in final attached position in the panel opening.

The improved spring catch or spring latch of the invention is one of general utility in that it is readily adapted for a wide range and variety of applications and uses as a separable fastener for doors, drawers and similar swinging or sliding closures, or as a similar fastener for detachably securing any two or more adjacent parts of an assembly.

The spring catch is particularly advantageous in that it is provided complete in itself together with attaching means receivable in a panel opening in a part for holding the same in self-sustained operative position on the panel without the use of bolts, screws or other auxiliary fasmember prior to theteners or special adapters or retainers. A further advantage in this regard resides in the fact that the spring catch is readily attached in the same fastening position on the supporting panel or plate either from the rearward side of the supporting panel or from the forward side of the panel when the rearward side is not conven iently or readily accessible, as is required in a blind location, for example. The spring catch, therefore, is admirably suited for manufacture in the manner of standard designs which are usable as the securing means for practically any assembly of parts having adjacent panel or plate portions to be fastened in either separable or permanently secured relation.

The improved spring catch of the invention otherwise is advantageous in that it is suitable for use with any type of cooperating stud or strike and particularly, such studs provided in the manner of inexpensive sheet metal stampings which are readily designed for attachment to practically any type of door, panel flange, plate or other part.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, the door catch or the like of the invention is shown comprising a pair of cooperating snap fastening members including a spring fastener It and a cooperating stud or strike 29, adapted to be mounted on a pair of opposed, abutting panel portions A, B of the usual cabinet casing and door or other closure therefor. The fastening members H], 20, are so mounted in a completed installation that on closing of the door, they are practically concealed within the casing such that the respective panel portions may be brought into flush contact with each other to provide a uniform, substantially unbroken exterior appearance to the cabinet or other structure. A further advantage of the improved spring catch resides in the fact that the door or other closure is fully and tightly closed and under more than the usual amount of spring tension whereby looseness of the door in closed position is eliminated and squeaks, rattling and other objectionable noises are prevented. It will be understood that the cooperating fastening members I0, 20, may be mounted as desired on any pair of separable, abutting wall surfaces but where employed as a door catch, they are, of course, preferably secured adjacent the superposed free ends of the door and easing.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-6 inclusive, the casing or cabinet structure A, Figs. 3 and 4, is shown in the general construction which includes an inturned or inwardly extending flange or plate portion 1 bordering the openarea of the cabinet or casing. A swinging or sliding door or cover B for the cabinet or casing comprises a panel member having an inturned flange 1 which is disposed in abutting relation to the flange i on the cabinet or casing A in closed position. The cooperating fastening devices It], 20, accordingly, are attached to the abutting flange members I, I, respectively, to serve as a separable door catch or, likewise, for securing any similar pair of abutting panel mem bers or wall members. The spring fastener is is attached to its supporting part comprising the inturned flange l on the part A through the provision of a suitable fastener receiving opening 2 in said flange l in which the fastener may be attached either from the rearward side of said flange by a simple clip action or from the forward side thereof by a simple snap fastening action. Such an opening 2 may be provided in defined only by the engage the opposite surfaces of is such that the base portions 14 various outlines and, in the present example. is

shown provided as a simple cruciform type of hole provided by a pair scribed. The cruciform type of hole shown in F'ig. 3 is preferable in instances'whereit is neces sary-ordesirable for the fastener tobe attachable from. either the inneror outer side-of: the panel I or panel flange l. vfastenermay be attached from theinner side In other instances where the of saidflange, thefastener receiving opening 2 may be provided asla simple rectangular Ihole shorter sloti l.

The spring clip I!) is a relativelysimplearticle of manufacture which may be; readily produced at low cost from an inexpensive section of any suitable sheet metal, preferably tempered spring steel or cold rolled steel having spring-like characteristics. The spring clipmay be formed from blanks of various outlines but from thestandpoint of mosteconomical quantity production is most advantageously provided from a simple generally rectangular blank which may nbepbtained from standard sheetmetal stripstock with little loss or waste of material. The blankor strip forming the clip isprovided with a central transverse slitintermediate a pair of spaced longitudinal slits on; opposite sidesofthe transverse slit toudefine a pair of elongate spring .armsll between theside or bridge portions I3 and the ends I4 of the blank. ,The blank, as thus formed,

.isIbent-into an-inverted V -shape in whichathe side portions I3 define elbows in ianiinverted V- shape with the spring arms II extending up Wardly between. said elbows in face to face relation and with theendselll of the blankbent outwardly in opposite directions to, provide-horizontal base portionsfor attaching the. fastener.

Thespring arms II are inclined inwardly toward each other in suitablespaced relation ,and are provided with outwardly bent lips, I Z on, their extremities defining curved or rounded contact surfaces which permit the head of the cooperating stud 20 to readily enter and seat therebetween on being applied thereto in, one direction and to resist reverse movement thereof in an opposite direction, but capable of being withdrawn when sufficient axial force is exerted toflseparate the stud from the spring catch, or vice versa.

The ends of theblank are cut away at each corner to provide the base-portions I4 of a Width less than the full width of the blank and with the outer edges of eachbase portion tapering outwardly to provide outwardly inclined or bevelled cam shoulders Hi. The end portions of the blank are each formed of suitablelength to provide the horizontal base portion I 4 and an adjoining straight neck portion I 5 in generally normal relation thereto and spacing the same from the adjacent cam shoulderslfi. The cam shoulders I6 are thus provided inspaced relation to the base flanges I I in accordancewithithe predetermined thickness of the marginal portions of the fastener receiving opening 2 so as tojsnugly such marginal of thejfastener The arrangement, otherwise, and adjoining neck portions I5 are provided in a width slightly less than the width of the shorter slot porportions in the attached position in said opening.

tionsl in thepanel openingd, while thedhax-iof the panel flange fastener ispushed home to position thereof in saidopening, as showniby full lines in Fig. 2, the cam shoulders I6 pass through the panel opening in the opening what compressed-tensioned condition urging base portions relation, the

I by compressing the fastener slot 3. -.-The iu-shaped is readilyuadapted to pass through said longer slot .3. as the narrower I base: portions I 4 and adjoining neck portions I5 are received in the ends of the shorter slot. 4 to seat the, fastener inattached position in the panel opening.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be understood thatithe spring clip or fastener) thus I, as is required in a blind installation, for example. As illustrated by the dotted-line showingof the fastener ID, in Fig. 2,

the central body of the fastener is compressed from its normal untensioned V-shaped configuration asnecessary to be inserted in the longer slot portions 3 of the said opening 2. When the the fully attached and thereupon spring outwardly-into engagement with the projections orabutments 5, Fig. 3, of the opening atthe rearward side of said 'flange I.

When the cam shoulders I6 thus pass through the opening, the adjoining neckportions I5 are received inthe ends of the shorter slot 4 which permits the compressediibodysof the fastenerto expand and seat the base portions I4 inpositive bearing engagement with the forward side of the ZY-but rather, remains in a sumethe M outwardly at all times. In this cam shoulders IE are in engagement with the projections or abutments 5 in the. opening at the rearward side of the flange base portions M in engagement with the opposite, forward side of the flange. Thusthe base portions I4 and the camzshouldersdfi cooperate inengagement with oppositesides of thefiange I bordering the opening :2 thereinito secure thefastener firmly and ing'Z-fromthe rearwardside of said flange simply to insert'and pass the base portions I4 through tener-in this- -manner the fastener receiving opening 2 may be provided in the form of a simple rectangular slot comprising only the shorter slot 4, whereupon the fastener may be attached in the same general manner just described.

The fastener is preferably made with the cam shoulders it which are adapted to compensate for manufacturing variations and irregularities in the thickness of the panel adjacent the panel opening and otherwise permit a single size fastener to be provided in a standard design which is adapted for use with panels of various thicknesses, within limits.

On the associated door, closure, or other part B to be secured or connected to the cabinet or other supporting part A, the cooperating stud 20 is provided in the form of a projecting shank designed for snap fastening engagement with the spring arms H of the spring catch it. Such. a stud ma be constructed for attachment to the flange 1 in any suitable form and in the present embodiment, is shown provided as an inexpensive sheet metal stamping comprising a shank 2| which extends through a slot 8 in said panel flange 1 and includes an angular head portion. 22 that seats within the adjacent corner of the part B and is welded thereto as by welding w. The outer free end of the shank comprises a flat bulbous shape in which the edges thereof are designed to provide a blunt leading end and adjacent outwardly diverging guide surfaces 25 merging into inwardly rounded recesses which define curved or rounded shoulders 26 on each edge of the snap stud.

The resilient spring clip HI and cooperating snap stud 20 are thus attached to the respective panel members A, B, with the flat shank of the stud disposed at right angles to the flat faces of the spring arms H of the clip so that said fastening members are thereby arranged to be moved into and out of snap fastening engagement by axial or substantially straight longitudinal movement of the stud. During such inward movement, the diverging guide surfaces 25 of the stud cause the spring arms I! of the clip to gradually spread apart and permit said stud to pass therebetween and seat the rounded shoulders 26 thereof on the rounded contact surfaces defined by the outwardly bent lips 12 on the spring arms in secured position, substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In this relation, the fastening members are actually secured by the rounded contact surfaces defined by the outwardly bent lip elements !2 of the spring arms H in engagement with the rounded shoulders 26 on the stud. Thus, the snap stud is adapted to effectively engage the spring arms of the clip in slight angular relationship, if necessary, in what may be termed a limited. universal contact. Accordingly, should the stud and clip be somewhat misaligned to cause the stud to move one of the spring arms more than the other, such inaccuracy is readily compensated for by the engagement of the rounded shoulders 26 of the snap stud in universal, close contact with the rounded surfaces defined by the lips l2 on the spring arms. This arrangement together with the foreshortened base construction of the clip providing for the relatively long spring arms H, prevents undue distortion and strain in the spring arms, and otherwise minimizes danger of fracture of the same by reason of crystallization incidental to continuous wear over an extended period of use. To release the stud and clip from secured position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, axial force providing an axial pull on the stud causes the rounded shoulders 26 on the stud to cam against the rounded contact surfaces on the spring arms as necessary to spread the same apart and thereby permit the stud to be disasseciated from the clip and easily and quickly withdrawn therefrom.

Figs. 7-20 inclusive illustrate several modifications in which the spring catch It is attached in an opening in a panel, flange or other supporting part A as and for the purposes described, but in which the cooperating stud or strike is provided in the form of simple, inexpensive, onepiece sheet metal stampings having various types of head constructions for attaching the same to the door or other part C to be permanently or separably secured to the supporting part A. The member C is illustrated as a door or other part comprising a panel or plate member 9 having an inturned flange 9 spacing the same from the adjacent surface of the cabinet or other part A in closed or secured position. The panel 9 is readily provided with any type of opening required for accommodating the attaching means of the particular type of head on the stud to be attached thereto for fastening engagement with the spring catch it in the same general manner described with reference to Figs. 1-6 inclusive.

In Figs. '7 and 8, the stud 30 is formed in a onepiece sheet metal stamping comprising an enlarged head portion which defines abutments 3| at one end and which is slotted at its opposite end to provide a pair of ears 32 bent outwardly in opposite directions on opposite sides of a cen tral tongue 33. The tongue 33 is provided with serrations 3 5 on its edges for threadedly engaging the threaded bore in a suitable knob 35 or for otherwise anchoring the same in a socket opening in a similar handle, or the like. In the attached position of the stud 38 on the panel 9, the ears 32 bear upon the inner surface of said panel and the central tongue 33 extends through a suitable opening 36 therein in projecting relation to the outer side thereof. The knob 35 is threaded or otherwise connected to the projecting end of said tongue 33 and cooperates with the ears 32 to retain the stud firmly and rigidly on the panel member 0 while the abutments 3! on the head of the stud serve as stops which limit the position of said panel member C in closed or secured relation to part A.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a similar construction for a stud 30a in which the central tongue 31 is provided with transverse slots defining shoulders 38 spaced from the cars 32 a distance equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the panel flange 9. In attached position, the tongue 31 extends through the slot 36 in the panel 9 and is twisted as necessary to dispose the shoulders 38 in abutting engagement with the adjacent outer portions of the panel to cooperate with the cars 32 in retaining the stud firmly and rigidly in attached position.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show another similar construction for a stud 30b in which the central portion of the head is slotted to provide a pair of spaced tongues which are adapted to be distorted to anchor the stud in attached position. As shown in Fig. 12, in the attached position of the stud, the said tongues 39 extend through a suitable opening 36 in the panel 9 and are spread apart by a suitable wedging tool such as shown at T in Fig. 11, which is forced into the space between said tongues 39 to cause the same to spread apart in sidewise relation as shown in Fig. 12, and also in edgewise relation as illustrated in Fig. 13, in a manner whereby said spaced tongues 39 anchor the stud in attached position in the panel opening 36 and cooperate with the ears 32 to retain the stud firmly and rigidly in such attached position.

Figs. 14 and 15 disclose another form of stud 40 comprising a head portion 4| bent at right angles thereto and provided with outwardly bent corner prongs 42 and inwardly extending thread engaging means 43 struck and formed therefrom. Such thread engaging means 43 may be provided in any suitable form in the manner of cooperating tongues, as shown, or in any similar or equivalent nut construction for threadedly engaging a bolt or screw. A knob or other handle 45 having a threaded shank 46 received in a suitable opening 41 in panel C, is rotated in threaded engagement with the thread engaging tongues 43, or the like, to tighten the head portion 4| of the stud against the panel C with the prongs 42 biting into said panel to anchor the stud against shifting or displacement. When added strength and rigidity in the stud is necessary or desirable, the shank thereof is stamped with a longitudinal rib or corrugation 48 which stiffens and rigidifies the shank against bending forces which might tend to distort or deform the same. Likewise, the sheet metal stud shown in any form of the invention may be stiffened and rigidified by means of a similar rib or corrugation, or the like.

Figs. 16-20 inclusive illustrate a similar stud 50 having a head portion 5| bent at right angles thereto but provided with clip elements for attaching the stud in an opening in the panel C in the manner of a rotary type clip fastener. The stud 50 includes a head 5| extending at right angles to the shank and provided with a pair of outwardly projecting V-shaped hooks 52 and a cooperating locking detent 54 struck and formed therefrom. The hooks 52 preferably are bent to define outwardly flared lips 53 on their leading ends merging into adjacent cam surfaces spaced from the adjacent face of the head 5| a distance slightly less than the thickness of the panel adjacent the fastener attaching opening 55 therein. This opening is provided as a simple rectangular slot 55 and the V-shaped hooks 52 designed to be received in said slot, as shown in Fig. 1'7, in the initial step for attaching the stud. In this relation, the hooks 52 extend through the slot with the outwardly flared lips 53 on the leading ends thereof slightly clearing the marginal portions of the slot on the side opposite that on which the head is disposed. When the head of the fastener is rotated ninety degrees to the position shown in Fig. 18, the lips 53 guide the cam hooks 52 into positive bearing engagement with the adjacent marginal portions of the slot as shown in Figs. 19 and 20 such that said hooks cooperate with the head 5| in engaging opposite sides of panel C to retain the stud firmly and rigidly in attached position on said panel. Preferably the locking detent 54 is provided and is so arranged as to snap into and engage a marginal edge of the slot 55 to lock the cam hooks 52 in final position against reverse rotation in the direction for removal from attached relation in said slot as shown in Figs. 18, 19, and 20.

The spring clip device I0 and the cooperating snap studs, in any form, preferably are constructed of relatively thin sheet metal, the thicktoughness and hardness, particularly in the case of devices which are subject to heavy dusty and constant usage. Cheap but effective fasteners be apparent that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

An assembly comprising a spring catch and a part having an opening in which said spring catch is attached by application entirely from the forward side of said part in position for engaging a formed by a pair of intersecting slots comprising a longer slot crossed by a shorter slot and providing marginal projections which define abutments adjacent said opening at the rearward side of said part, and said spring catch comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to form a bowed body providing a pair of spaced body portions applied through said longer slot from the forward side of said part to project from the rearward side of said part in compressed relation GEORGE A. TINNERMAN.

Number Name Date 973,001 Churchill Oct. 18, 1910 987,021 Skowronski Mar. 14, 1911 1,531,321 Vance Mar. 31, 1925 1,626,810 Gingras et a1. May 3, 1927 2,151,284 Tinnerman Mar. 21, 1939 2,312,991 OConnor Mar. 2, 1943 2,342,831 Borchers Feb. 29, 1944 2,342,832 Borchers Feb. 29, 1944 

